Powder for fireballs from 45/70 handgun?

[someguy2800]

I got a 10" Thompson Center Contender barrel yesterday and got it setup to shoot today. My whole reason for getting it is basically as a fun range gun that I thought people would get a kick out of loaded to give big fireballs out the muzzle brake. I figured the big inefficient 45/70 case loaded with slower burning powders would give some impressive displays out the muzzle brake, but so far I can't get what I was looking for. Nothing even close to H110 out of a 357 or 44 mag. Anybody ran across any powder that gave particularly impressive fireballs?

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I would think a slower powder would allow some gasses to reignite when they hit the air from a 10" barrel. I never thought about this and my idea is only a wild guess which may be right or totally wrong.

Sorry I'm no real help but it is an interesting thread.

 

[AJC1]

Your major issue is case fill vs fire ball. Holly Black may be your best option.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

I would think a slower powder would allow some gasses to reignite when they hit the air from a 10" barrel. I never thought about this and my idea is only a wild guess which may be right or totally wrong.

Sorry I'm no real help but it is an interesting thread.

I know. Same here. I actually try to avoid exactly what this poster and several others are wanting. It’s a might bit confusing.
I agree with @AJC1 - try FFFg black powder. You might want to stand up wind when you light it off.

 

[WestKentucky]

What barrel length? What maker? Tc stuff ain’t cheap right now.

The thing to do is to stay low pressure. Higher pressure ignites better in the barrel and burns more fully while contained. Lower pressure is where you get inefficient burning which means a lot of residual unburnt powder in the air which ignites outside the barrel and puts on a show. Low charges of slow powder, and possibly a trick from yesteryear, put some filler in there. Preferably something that will flash and burn, but the old standard is cream of wheat.

Now, a word of caution. Low pressure rounds that burn poorly are VERY messy. You start getting into muzzle devices and you have a chore to clean that mess up.

 

[Charlie98]

Do they have PowerPistol loads for .45-70? Maybe MP300?

I don't know... I think there is a tradeoff where slower rifle powders don't even start to burn correctly (in a 10" barrel) vs faster powders will still give a good fireball. Holy Black might be your Huckleberry...

 

[someguy2800]

I would think a slower powder would allow some gasses to reignite when they hit the air from a 10" barrel. I never thought about this and my idea is only a wild guess which may be right or totally wrong.

Sorry I'm no real help but it is an interesting thread.

That is what I thought too. I tried going to the extreme end of slow burning with 60 grains of 6.5 staball and H4831sc. Quickload estimates that to be around 20,000 psi, but no fireball. The H4831 load was about the loudest thing I’ve ever heard so there is that, but no fireball.

 

[Obturation]

Try lighter bullet. It'll take less time to exit and maybe your powder of choice will still be burning?? Maybe a .452 bullet would exaggerate the effect?

Never sought that but slow powders and less resistance are your friends for fireballs .

 

[someguy2800]

What barrel length? What maker? Tc stuff ain’t cheap right now.

The thing to do is to stay low pressure. Higher pressure ignites better in the barrel and burns more fully while contained. Lower pressure is where you get inefficient burning which means a lot of residual unburnt powder in the air which ignites outside the barrel and puts on a show. Low charges of slow powder, and possibly a trick from yesteryear, put some filler in there. Preferably something that will flash and burn, but the old standard is cream of wheat.

Now, a word of caution. Low pressure rounds that burn poorly are VERY messy. You start getting into muzzle devices and you have a chore to clean that mess up.

10” from match grade machine. Slow burning and low pressure has not been the ticket so far.

I was thinking about trying some fillers like coffee creamer or crushed charcoal or something.

 

[OrangePwrx9]

On a hunch, try 1680 behind a light bullet. Blue dot always generates fireballs for me, but it might not be slow enuff for 45-70.

 

[GeoDudeFlorida]

10” from match grade machine. Slow burning and low pressure has not been the ticket so far.

I was thinking about trying some fillers like coffee creamer or crushed charcoal or something.

View attachment 1135239

Okay, so first let me say I have never tried either of these loads. They are from the Lyman’s 48th in T/C Contender section so they are tailored to the gun in question. I don’t know if they will fireball but, knowing IMR 4198 I suspect it will. IMR 4227 I believe is flash suppressed so it will give you an Earth-shattering “boom” but I don’t think it will Vesuvius.
Good luck

 

[WestKentucky]

10” from match grade machine. Slow burning and low pressure has not been the ticket so far.

I was thinking about trying some fillers like coffee creamer or crushed charcoal or something.

View attachment 1135239

Pretty nice looking setup there.

 

[GarrettJ]

Tagged for fireball photos.

 

[onespeedbiker]

I would think any of these loads would work http://www.gmdr.com/lever/lowveldata.htm In my experience using magnum handgun powder for light 45-70 light will get you the flash you are looking for. I choose the 350 gr bullet section because it includes recipes with, Blue Dot and 2400 both of which have a large muzzle flash. I have used the 18gr of 2400 load load in my Marlin carbine and it is very similar to shooting 44mag from a similar rifle.

 

[__steve__]

H110 is my favorite